Abraham Lincoln Letters & Signed Photograph

Abraham Lincoln Letters & Signed Photograph

An up-close look at a signed portrait of the president, plus two intriguing letters to a general in the field.
Appraised by Ken Gloss
$75,000 - $100,000

Lincoln is seated beside a table in the portrait, appearing deep in thought, leaning slightly forward and bracing himself on the arms of the chair. The brim of his upturned "stovepipe" hat is barely visible at the left edge of the picture.

Oscar Wilde.THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Ward, Lock & Co.,London, New York and Melbourne. 1891.

Oscar Wilde.THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Ward, Lock & Co.,London, New York and Melbourne. 1891.

Value:$8,000 - $12,000

CLASSIC LITERATURE /DECADENCE/ FANTASY

Wilde's only novel, considered by some to be his greatest work. One of the very few examples of decadent English literature, also a fantasy (listed in Bleiler as MX7- i.e. 'Magical Objects / Allegory, Symbolism). Oscar Wilde, chiding a hostile and prurient newspaper critic wrote- "Leave my book, I beg you, to the immortality that it deserves" and insisted in his preface "...there is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That's all." Dorian Gray first appeared in Lippincott's simultaneously in Philadelphia and London, on June 20, 1890. This publication was immediately followed by publication of an unauthorized, pirated version of the tale, printed June 22, 1890 in New York by M. J. Ivers & Co. Wilde then substantially revised the work and added six new chapters and this the Ward, Lock 1891 edition is the normal first edition that you see (there is also the one of 250 Large Paper copies signed by the great man.) There is a simple issue point on the trade first edition,the first issue has the word "and" misspelled "nd" on page 208 eight lines from the bottom.

The plot it is summed up in this piece of pre publicity for the new 'Dorian' movie due to hit screens on 11 September 2009 - 'A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.' It stars Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton, the aristocrat who corrupts Gray and one Ben Barnes as the beautiful Dorian doomed in the Faustian pact. Apparently it is being done as a horror flick. It has been filmed several times notably the 1945 movie with George Sanders as Wotton --a b/w fim that bursts into Technicolor whenever the portrait is shown in close-up (as I recall.)

antique autograqph

Augusta:

When joy and gladness fill the heart, when care and sorrow both depart, when all around is mirth and glee, then Agusta Dear, remember me. Your friend, Katie Karcher -- May 2, 1881.

British Royal Commemorative Collectibles

British Royal Commemorative Collectibles:::
Since the 17th Century, souvenirs commemorating Royal Events have been collected. Coronations, Weddings, Births, Anniversaries, Jubilees and other Special Events have been the subject of thousands of Memorabilia created by thousands of commercial businesses and collected by millions of Royal subjects and fans.

There is such a wide range of items, mainly conservative in nature such as China Plates, teacups, mugs, dresser boxes, figurines, spoons, pins, medallions, crystal goblets & paperweights, even jigsaw puzzles, calendars, handerchiefs, tea towels and dolls just to name a few.

There have always been avid collectors of Royal Commemorative items over the years, but no one has ever been as popular to collect as the late Princess Diana. Her presence, brief as it seemed, made such an impact on the British Royal Collecting market, it has been difficult to maintain an interesting inventory.

Elizabeth II, the current Queen, has always been popular and not difficult to find at reasonable prices, however, earlier Monarchs dating back to Queen Victoria, are becoming more difficult to locate. Memorabilia prior to Queen Victoria is scarce and becoming quite expensive when found.

We hope you visit often as we continue adding more Royal Commemorative items as we acquire them.

Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 victory speech establishes new world auction record

Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 victory speech establishes new world auction record ::::

In a Feb. 12 sale of Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 Victory Speech, Christie's achieved $3,442,500 and set a new auction record for a Lincoln manuscript, a presidential manuscript and any American historical document.

Chris Coover, Senior Specialist of the Books and Manuscripts department, said, “We are extremely gratified at the attention this historic Presidential speech generated in the media, leading up to today’s observance of Lincoln’s Bicentennial birthday. Today's auction is a testimony to Americans' and the world’s abiding interest in and reverence for President Abraham Lincoln.”

Delivered by Lincoln from the White House on Nov. 10, 1864, two days after he won re-election to a second term, the speech was compelling, eloquent and timely. In it, Lincoln considers “whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own existence, in great emergencies.” He stresses that “we cannot have free government without elections,” even in times of serious crisis. Finally he calls upon his fellow Americans to “re-unite in a common effort, to save our common country.”

Proceeds from the sale of the speech will go to the Southworth Library Association and will fund construction of a new addition to the library and other projects.

Hitler’s Gift Watch Makes $70,000 At Auction

:::Hitler’s Gift Watch Makes $70,000 At Auction:::



An historically important pocket watch has made its way to auction as a result of the work of John Farkas and Connie Rose of Antiques and Estate Auctioneers.

The watch, an 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket watch, which is described as a "minute-repeating" watch by A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte, I/SA, B/Dresden, No. 91764, realized $70,000 at a May 12 auction.

According to the archives at A. Lange & Sohne, the watch was made in 1938, and sold on December 12, 1938, to Adolf Lunser, Berlin, a company that was the official supplier to the German government and the Third Reich.

Nativity of Mother of God

Nativity of Mother of God

price:: 2499$


This beautiful Antique Russian Icon is titled "Nativity of Mother of God". This Antique Russian Icon was painted in the 19th century, the artist used Egg tempera on wood with a silver plated, bronze Riza. This Icon is from Moscow, Russia and the size is 12" x 14". It is a gorgeous piece and has been preserved very well. Beneath the beautiful Riza is a magnificent painting of the Nativity of Mother of God. This makes the Russian Icon unique since most Icon's with Rizas are only painted under the opening in the Riza. However, this icon is fully painted under the Riza which is very unusual. The icon is 100% original and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

World map of Mahmud al-Kashgari.

Description: World map of Mahmud al-Kashgari.
11th century

This turkocentric world map was published in al-Kashgari's "Compendium of the languages of the Turks" in the 11th century, oriented with east on the top, showing Taklamakan and the Altai in the centre, the Caspian Sea to the north, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yemen and Egypt to the the west, China and Japan to the east, Hindustan, Kashmir, Gog and Magog to the south. The world is shown as encircled by the ocean.

Budhha 137 years old

Budhha 137 years old

buddha, 137 years old, 6 inches in height, 20-25 kilos

price::2,000,000.00 +

World map by Johannes Kepler in 1627

World map by Johannes Kepler
First edition: 1627
Published in: "Tabulae Rudolphinae: quibus astronomicae" by J. Kepler.

World and France 1683 by Mallet

World and France 1683 by Mallet

Cartographer: Mallet

Full Title: "Planisphere du Monde"

Published: 1683, Paris

Price:150$

"Planisphere du Monde" issued Paris, 1683 by Mallet.

A wonderful depiction of the world in spheres rendered as if on a scrolled wall map, with France below it depicted in the same manner.

In near excellent antiquarian condition with attractive full hand color on a c. 5 " W x 7 5/8 " H sheet, image area c. 4 " W x

The Picture of Dorian Gray , by OSCAR WILDE IN 1891

The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Wilde, Oscar
1st Edition
Price: $75,000.00

• Bookseller: B & B Rare Books, Ltd. (US)
• Seller Inventory #: OW004
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Binding: Hardcover
• Publisher: London: Ward Lock and Co.
• Date published: 1891






Book Description:::

London: Ward Lock and Co., 1891. First edition, first impression, regular issue. Presentation copy inscribed by Wilde to verso of the half title page, "Frank/ from his/ friend Oscar/ Oct 22/ ‘91.” Bound in the original gray beveled paper-covered boards with gilt lettering and butterfly designs by Charles Ricketts. Expert repairs to paper at corners and spine rebacked with matching paper. Occasional light soiling to text. Housed in a fine custom quarter gilt-stamped vellum and handmade paper-covered box. Wilde’s first and only novel, and longest work of prose, first appeared in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine on June 20, 1890, and is considered to be Wilde’s most personal work. The novel was first published in book form in April, 1891 with new chapters, many alterations and variations. Extremely scarce inscribed and in the original boards.. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.



The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel written by Oscar Wilde, first appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters; the amended version was published by Ward, Lock, and Company in April 1891. The story is often miscalled The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

World's Most Expensive Wines

World's Most Expensive Wines


When an enterprising young man named James Christie opened his sales rooms in London in December 1766, his first auction consisted of the estate of a "deceased nobleman" containing "a large Quantity of Madeira and high Flavour'd Claret." The records don't relate how much these delightfully described "high Flavour'd clarets" fetched but as the whole sale realized a grand total £175, it is a sure bet that if Christie had known that two hundred years later, in 1985, his now famous auction house would sell one bottle of wine for £105,000, or $160,000, he might have held back a bottle or two to enrich his future heirs.

This bottle was a Bordeaux, a 1787 Chateau Lafite, and, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, 18 years later it still is the world's most expensive bottle of wine. Its great age alone would have ensured a good price but what gave it its special cachet, especially to American collectors, and ensured the record price tag were the initials Th.J. etched in the glass.

Most Expensive Car in the World : McLaren F1

If your passion for performance and luxury autos cannot be stopped, and your McLaren F1 is becoming a bore with the rest of your exotic cars, it might be time to check out the long awaited Veyron from Bugatti. At around $1.25 million, t iis the most expensive car ever made.

This is not your typical luxury car. How about a W-16 (essentially two narrow-angle V-8s sharing a crankshaft) with four turbochargers generating 1001 hp, throw in all-wheel drive and you’ve got a seriously fast car.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 hits 60 mph in 2.5 secs., does the quarter-mile in 10.5 secs. and reaches its top speed of 252 mph in just 55 secs. After a long absence from the market Bugatti (with a little help from parent company Volkswagen) has reclaimed its title as the ultimate performance car and reigns supreme as the world’s most expensive car in production.

Most Expensive Magazine in world :Wilmott magazine

How much would you be willing to fork over for a subscription to a magazine about quantitative finances? Forget the ten to twenty dollars you’d pay for a subscription to Maxim, Cosmo or Rolling Stone. Quantitative analysts who want to keep up to date in their chosen profession may need to pay up to nearly $700 for a bimonthly subscription to the most magazine expensive magazine in the world.
Published out of the UK, Wilmott magazine offers information about the most recent research, innovative financial models, reviews and in-depth analysis. Of course, you may need a PhD in mathematical finances to understand any of it. Each issue is an eleven inch square, giving you the feeling that you’re holding the teacher’s copy of a textbook, with all the answers in the extended margins.

Individual subscribers pay only $325 for a year-long subscription while institutions pay $650. Subscribers to the world’s most expensive magazine are also inducted into the Wilmott Book Club, giving them discounts on many quantitative finance and popular science books.

Most Expensive Guitar in the World

Most Expensive Guitar in the World

hey its just in n $2.7 million USD...???


“Blackie”, Eric Clapton’s favorite mid-career modified Strat has been surpassed in value and is no longer the most expensive guitar ever, despite that it was bought for $950,000 USD in 2004 by a guitar archaeologist.
The latest most expensive electric guitar in the world dethroned its predecessor at an auction in Doha, Qatar on November 16th, 2005. The Strat was signed by several rock musicians to benefit a tsunami charity, ‘Reach out to Asia’. It was bought one year ago by Qatar’s royal family for a million dollars and donated back to the Asia Program, bringing in $2.7 million USD at the more recent auction, whose attendees included Former President Bill Clinton. Technically, the guitar has generated a total of $3.7 million USD, making it the most expensive guitar yet.

Signees of this expensive electric guitar included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus & Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard, and Bryan Adams, the coordinator of the project.

most expensive things

lets start with shoes..

Most expensive shoes: 1 million pounds



Would you feel like a princess or what when you wear something worth 1m pounds? The most expensive shoes in the world were on sale at Harrods in London. After a photo-call for the press, the shoes were locked away in a bullet-proof case where they will be guarded round-the-clock. The shoes, inspired by the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, were woven from platinum thread and set with 642 rubies. They were designed by Stuart Weitzman.

Most expensive hair cut: 1,925 pounds

London stylist Lee Stafford (above) gives it.
You get what he calls a "couture cut" — but you have to travel to his house.
Of course, you'll get champagne, hors d'oeuvres and a follow-up trim as part of your package, so actually it's quite reasonable.
Isn't it

Most expensive house: $2 billion home


The 27-storey skyscraper being built in Mumbai by Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in India, could be the world's largest and costliest home with a price-tag nearing two billion dollar, according to Forbes magazine

Most expensive tea bag: 7,500 pounds

To celebrate PG Tips 75th birthday, Boodles jewelers produced this tea bag. It took three months to make and has been hand-crafted using 280 diamonds. Pete Harbour, spokesman for PG Tips has been quoted: "As it's our 75th birthday, we wanted to do something special to remind people just how much they love the great British cup of tea."

Most expensive jeans: Over $ 4,000



They wanted to be "the Mercedes-Benz, the Maybach of the denim industry". And APO jeans have done just that with a pair costing as much as $ 4,000 or more. They offer mens and ladies jeans with Silver Buttons and Rivets at $1,000, 14k White or Yellow Gold Button and Rivets at $1,500, Platinum Button and Rivets at $3,250, and the Diamond Button and Rivets start at $4,000. All Jeans will come with Authenticity Number as well as an Appraisal Sheet from a top Jeweler in the NY diamond district. Of course, you could buy the economy version: they run only $1,000 a pair. APO jeans are constructed from denim woven in India that costs $40 a yard, compared with the $2- to $3-per-yard cost of materials for most designer denim. Buttons and rivets are made with precious metals or, if a customer is willing to shell out $4,000 or more, up to a dozen white diamonds on the main button.


Most expensive watch : $150,000 : Zadora Timepieces
Manufacturer: Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof

The latest offering by Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof is a bee of oxidised palladium and micro pave. The bee is adorned with black and canary yellow diamonds, pear-shaped emerald eyes with a baroque south sea pearl in its mouth.

Most expensive phone: GoldVish ‘Le Million’ Piece Unique : $1.3 million


Guinness World Records certified GoldVish SA’s ‘Le Million’ Piece Unique on January 29th, 2008. The Geneva-based luxury communications company’s expensive mobile phone was designed by Emmanuel Gueit as an addition to the Illusion Collection. The phone is made of 18k white gold and set with 20 carats of VVS1 (only microscopically flawed) diamonds. The phone also features Bluetooth, 2 GB of storage, FM radio, a digital camera and MP3 playback.
The Guinness-backed world’s most expensive cell phone is available only by special order.

Most expensive nail polish: $250:Platinum power

But if you don’t have the time or patience for a manicure, you can still have hands that scream ‘I’m worth a million bucks’. Or at least, $250 .The 'I Do' polish is a sheer nail polish that has platinum dust in it.
However, the first bottle of the series was displayed in special bottle made with a platinum top and base that is valued at $55,000

world’s most expensive perfume: $50,000 : Parfum VI

The world’s most expensive perfume is a creation by famous British perfumer Arthur Burnham who has created a bottle with platinum, 24 carat gold, rubies and diamonds all over it! It is called ‘Parfum VI’ and believe it or not, Rolls-Royce designed and built the box. You can’t
expect much change from £50,000.

Rumour has it that only 173 are being made and Michael Jackson has ordered two and Mike Tyson three – I thought they were skint!!!

Most expensive tie:$250,000.00 USD

When fully dressed Salman Khan paraded on a red ramp displaying the most expensive tie in the world, the picture was splashed all over the globe. The tie, studded with 261 diamonds of 77 carat each and made of pure silk with 150 grams of gold, is priced at a whopping Rs 1 crore. It is designed by Satya Paul and the Suashish Diamond group.

Most expensive pen: $265,000

Swiss company Caran d'Ache made 'La Modernista Diamonds' a pen that was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000. Created in memory of architect Antonio Gaudi, the rhodium-coated solid silver pen has an 18-karat gold pen point and is pave-set with 5,072 diamonds and 96 half-cut rubies.

Most expensive truffle: 28,000 pounds for 1.88 lbs

An expensive little Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge, Zafferano bought the most expensive truffle in the world. For how much? Just take a deep breath! Zefferano paid 28,000 for just 1.88 lbs of Italian white truffle during a charity auction in Tuscany.

Top Paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci

The great Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was born on April 15 in year of 1452,and this multidimensional man served the world till May 2, 1519 as a mathematician, scientist, inventor, engineer, painter, anatomist, sculptor, musician, architect, and writer.

Ginevra de' Benci.



This painting is made by Leonardo in 1474 on the wood by oil paints, it's size is 38.2 x 36.7 cm. At present time it is in The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Mona Lisa.

This is Leonardo's most famous painting, he had paint this historical painting in 1503-1507 with Oil paint on poplar, it's size is 77 × 53 cm. At present time is in The Musée du Louvre, Paris.


The Adoration of the Magi.


This painting is made by him in 1481-82, he used Yellow ochre and brown ink on panel, its size is 246 x 243 cm.It is now in The Uffizi, Florence.

Lady with an Ermine.

This is Leonardo's oter famous painting painted by him in 1483-90 by Oil on wood, Its size is 53.4 x 39.3 cm. It is now in the Czartoryski Museum, Cracow.

Madonna Litta.

Created by Leonardo in 1490-91 by Tempera on canvas. Its size is 42 x 33 cm. It is now in The Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

The Last Supper.

This painting is created in 1498 by Leonardo. Its size is 460 x 880 cm. It is now in The Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Refectory), Milan.

The Virgin of the Rocks.

This is painted by Vinci in 1503-06 by Oil on wood. Its size is 189.5 x 120 cm. It is now increasing the value of The National Gallery, London.

Hitler's globe fetches 50,000$

Hitler's globe fetches 50,000$...

A globe that once belonged to Adolf Hitler has sold at auction in San Francisco for £50,000 - more than five times its estimate.

An American soldier found the globe among the ruins of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" in the Bavarian Alps in May 1945.

John Barsamian took it home and kept it for more than 60 years - along with all the military paperwork that allowed him to take the globe to the U.S.

Sold: Ex-U.S. soldier John Barsamian shows off Hitler's globe

Greg Martin, proprietor of the auction house that handled the sale and had estimated the item at £10,000, said: "This is probably the most airtight documentation I've run across in some time.

pictures of the guy there at the time, standing in the ruins holding the globe like a newborn baby.

Eagle's Nest: Hitler studies a map at his retreat in the Bavarian Alps

"The guy is a meticulous record keeper."

The 91-year-old was at the sale yesterday with his son Barry when San Francisco entrepreneur Bob Pritikin placed the winning bid.

Double gold eagle

The 'double gold eagle', made in 1933 but was never circulated.

The US government changed their minds and ordered all the old coins returned - all except
three.

Auctioned in New York for $7,600,000

Value: 20.00 U.S. dollars

Mass: 33.431 g

Diameter: 34.1 mm (1.34252 in)

Thickness: 2.0 mm (0.07874 in)

Edge: milled/reeded

Composition: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Years of minting: 1933 Catalog

design: blade eagle in flight , baked by glory with motto

designer: Augustus saint-gaudens

design date : 1907

The 1933 double eagle (United States 20-dollar gold coin) currently holds the record for highest price paid at auction for a single U.S. coin when it was purchased for US$7.59 million. 445,500 specimens of this Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle were minted in 1933, the last year of production for the Double Eagle, but no specimens ever officially circulated and nearly all were melted down, due to the discontinuance of the domestic gold standard in 1933.